Jay Z, Mayor Garcetti Announce Summer L.A. Music Festival

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Mayor Eric Garcetti teamed up with Jay Z during a news conference on Wednesday to announce a summer music festival that would be taking place in downtown Los Angeles this summer.

Jay Z shakes Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s hand before stepping up to the microphone at an event announcing the Made in America festival at L.A. City Hall on April 16, 2014. (Credit: KTLA)

The two-day “Budweiser Made in America” concert is scheduled for Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 in Grand Park, according to a news release from Budweiser and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

“On Labor Day weekend, we’re going to celebrate our golden state of mind right here in L.A. with a sellout crowd, right here on the steps of City Hall and into Grand Park,” Garcetti said during the news conference.

About 50,000 people were expected to attend the two-day concert, according to Garcetti, who was credited with bringing the event to L.A. by Jay Z.

“Los Angeles, you all should be very proud of this incredible mayor you have, who pulled this thing together in record time,” Jay Z said. “Two years ago, he had a vision of putting together a music festival that blurred musical genre lines.”

The 19-time Grammy winner noted that local residents would have the benefit of being able to go to a music festival that wasn’t at “some far off place that you can’t get to.”

He added that the concert was meant to be inclusive and “not exclusive.”

The “Budweiser Made in America” music festival will also be held on the same two dates in Philadelphia, which has hosted the concert since 2012.

“We started two years ago in Philadelphia and had huge success,” Jay Z said. “I’m sure we’ll have even more success in Los Angeles. We’re very proud to be here.”

The two-day event could be a major boost to the L.A.’s economy, as Garcetti noted that the first concert in Philadelphia had an economic impact of $10 million on the city.

Some of the benefits from the L.A. location festival were expected to go to The United Way of Greater Los Angeles, according to L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson.

The music festival in Philadelphia would benefit the United Way of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and the United Way of Lancaster County, the release stated.

The prospect of a concert in the city thrilled some L.A. residents.

“That’s pretty cool,” said Elizabeth Lee, who works in downtown. “That sounds fun.”

Others, however, expressed concerns that the festival would create more traffic in the city.

“Yeah, sure, why not add more traffic to downtown L.A.,” Bill Engvall said. “Let’s see how much we can take.”

“Early bird” tickets, including fees, cost $155 and were scheduled to go on sale Friday at 10 a.m., according to Ticketmaster’s website.

Live Nation would produce both performances, according to the release.